Documentation to "My Case"

August 27, 2001

Faculty Member
Department of Geosciences
SUNY at Stony Brook

Dear Colleague:

Seventeen years ago, I was looking for a job. I have to admit, not very successfully. Then I found out, on the way to the GSA Meeting in Cincinnati, that the ESS Department at Stony Brook had obtained funding for a new high-pressure lab. I was able to convince Charlie Prewitt and Don Weidner at the meeting that they needed me and my experience in high-pressure research to make the lab work. I started my new job at the department on April 1, 1985. Although, this was only a non-tenure research appointment, I was promised that my position could become permanent, if I did well. I was very confident and, perhaps, naïve in those days, and had no doubts that this promise meant that sooner or later I would get a tenure. The new press, the centerpiece of the new lab, was installed in December of 1985. In the period between 1986 and 1989, I developed the techniques and procedures that allowed to conduct routine experiments at pressures up to 24 GPa and temperatures up to 2400°C. Almost everybody in the United States who was interested in pursuing this kind of high-pressure research came to learn these techniques. Subsequently, I applied these techniques in phase equilibrium studies. My first paper from these studies was published in 1989, and included the results from 70 experiments. Four more papers were published in the 1990 JGR volume issued in memory of Chris Scarfe and edited by Bob Liebermann. These early developments, research and publications provided the foundation for the successful bid to acquire a National Science Center, the CHiPR, which secured funding for all other research positions, operation of the departmental microprobe, and ultimately contributed to the department’s reputation being enhanced by having 2 more distinguished service professors. Many other studies followed, which resulted in over 60 publications. These studies were supported by independent funding from 5 different NSF grants. The complete list of publications and other details were included in the summary of my accomplishments, distributed in January of this year to 100 scientists, including all faculty members of this department.

I believe that my accomplishments exceed by far anything that could be reasonably required for a tenure. I always believed that when the time comes, the department would make me an offer of a tenured position. I have been waiting for it for almost 17 years. As you know, the time is running out. The CHiPR will cease to exist at the end of January 2002, and with it, my salary. This is the utmost time to act. Even if you do not like certain aspects of my research, which I can understand, consider the human side of the situation. It is simply not nice to let a fellow faculty member to be dismissed after 17 years of service to this department, if you can do something about it. Consider also the public relations side. Can this department afford to pass the opportunity to keep me? Many outside of this department, who value my work, might think not. It would not look good for the department when the scientific community finds out that my only reward and award for the 17 years of exceptional contributions, which are widely known, recognized and respected, was a pink slip.

I am fully confident that you will do what is honorable and consistent with the fine reputation that this department enjoys. Thank you for your support.


Respectfully,



Tibor Gasparik
Associate Professor for Research